How do I fold table napkins?

Each hostess wants to surprise guests at a dinner party, for this delicious dishes are prepared, the room and the table are decorated. One of the original techniques for giving the table a festive look is unusually folded napkins, because serving always attracts attention. If friends are going to visit, you can do with paper ones. But for a more formal event, it is advisable to use fabric. As a rule, they are folded in a triangle and placed neatly under the edge of the plate. However, this will not surprise anyone, therefore, for a spectacular design, you should give preference to more complex, but at the same time fast options.

Napkins appeared in everyday life at a time when food was taken without cutlery. Hands had to be wiped, and it was forbidden to do this on a tablecloth or clothes, so they used handkerchiefs. Later, special materials appeared specifically for fingers, and then disposable paper options.

When decorating a festive table, it is not enough just to fold napkins beautifully, you need to know some of the subtleties of etiquette. It is recommended to serve with both linen and paper products.

Previously, the textile product should be washed, starched and ironed well. In no case should you lay the tablecloths with wet or not washed hands at all, as the material gets dirty quickly and even the most beautiful way of laying will not save the dirty look.And of course, before laying on the table directly, it is recommended to practice well and hone the skill of beautiful folding so that at the last moment everything works out as it should.

The rules of etiquette dictate not only the options for serving cloth napkins, but also the use of them. First of all, it should be remembered that they cannot be tucked into the collar of clothing, the material must lie open on the knees.

Do not wave the cloth too hard or wipe your lips too thoroughly - this is a sign of bad taste. If it is necessary to temporarily leave the table, it is recommended to carefully put the scarf on the plate or hang it on the back of the chair.

When serving, you need not only to fold the napkins beautifully, but also to be able to choose them correctly. The choice should be based on the following factors.

According to the material, napkins are divided into two types: fabric and paper. The first option fits directly onto the plate, the second - under it. Some housewives prefer to fold paper napkins inside the glasses, this method is also not forbidden, on the contrary, the table is given an even more festive look.

Cloth tablecloths are preferably linen or cotton, since these two materials keep their neat look longer and do not slip when folded, unlike synthetic ones.

The shape of the textiles for table setting is usually square, measuring 40 x 40 centimeters, however, some people prefer to take rectangular pieces of fabric. It all depends on the method of folding, one requires a square shape, the other rectangular. Such a product can be sewn independently from any rag material.

According to etiquette, when decorating the table with napkins, their color should be combined with the main shade of the tablecloth and dishes.

If a thematic holiday is being arranged, then you can turn on your imagination and select cloth tablecloths in any combination. Some folding methods also require original colors. For example, a rose or tree will look much better in a red or green shade than white.

Folding fabrics for table setting has a myriad of options. Below are the most popular step-by-step methods that will become useful knowledge in the arsenal of any housewife.

This option is perfect for a romantic dinner for two. In this way, you can fold both a tissue and paper napkin. It is very simple and does not take a lot of time:

1. first, you should unfold the product, putting it face down on the table;
2. then it neatly folds in half into an equilateral triangle, the fold of which is wrapped a couple of centimeters, after which the whole structure is rolled up and a tube is obtained;
3. for tight fixation, the extreme corner should be wrapped inward;
4. if the candle turns out to be too high, you can tuck the top part too.

This folding scheme is one of the most popular. The napkin unfolds face up and gradually turns into a fan in all known ways:

1. starting from the top, a small strip is wrapped down, then the material is turned over and the action is performed again;
2. the process is repeated until the last strip is bent, after which the cloth napkin from below is folded in half into an accordion;
3. so the fan itself is ready, and in order to make a stand, it should be clamped in your hand and carefully pull up the inner fold on both sides;
4. the resulting structure is fixed and dissolved.

This option will be a great addition to a table set for a formal event. Outwardly, it looks like a cutlery pocket. It is not difficult to wrap a textile product in a sachet; for this you need to put it face up. First, the square material is folded in half, then a third of the top is folded down to create a center fold. The structure flips over and its two edges join to form a neat center line. The procedure is repeated on this side, after which the sachet is ready and cutlery can be put inside.

For the New Year, the table is always decorated with special scrupulousness and taste. Cloth napkins folded in the shape of a Christmas tree will be a great addition to the festive table setting:

1. the napkin is folded in half into a rectangle, each corner of which is bent towards the center;
2. the resulting bevels are rolled towards the center to achieve a square shape;
3. the material is turned over and similar actions are repeated on this side;
4. in the upper part, the left corner is bent diagonally and hides in the opposite side of the square, the same is done with the lower right corner, after which an equilateral triangle is obtained, which also folds in half;
5. to get a full-fledged Christmas tree, you need to make two such parts and connect them together.

In addition to the standard options for folding tissue napkins, there are more original ones that guests will remember for a long time. You can decorate the table with do-it-yourself flowers from napkins, various figures or a peacock.

This type of design will look very elegant and original. For this figure, you will need two cloth napkins, the choice of color depends entirely on the taste preferences of the hostess. The process of creating a bird is complex, but the end result is worth all the effort and time spent:

1. the napkin is turned face down, the upper corners are bent so that a house is formed, then the bevels are wrapped twice and the structure is turned over;
2. the resulting quadrangle is folded and a peacock's neck is formed, then the beak is bent and the first part of the bird is ready;
3. the next step will be to create a tail, for which a piece of fabric is folded into a rectangular shape and bent like an accordion, not reaching the edge of five centimeters;
4. the resulting structure is folded in half, and the upper corner is bent to the central part;
5. when both parts are ready, all that remains is to combine them into one and get a gorgeous bird that will surprise even those guests who themselves are fond of original ways of folding cloth napkins.

This option will add elegance and beauty to the festive table. For a fabric rose, you will need two pieces of fabric - one to twist the bud, the other for the foliage.

The green napkin is folded in half in a triangle, then the action is repeated two more times and the resulting shape is placed in a glass so that the sheets seem to look over the edges. The red napkin should be folded into a rectangle and rolled into a bud, and then placed on the foliage.

Whichever way you choose to fold tissue napkins, always rely on the general theme of the holiday and your own taste preferences. It is important to remember that a good pastime depends not only on delicious dishes and a beautifully served table, but also on the general mood of all guests, as well as the correct behavior of the host of the evening.

There are other ways to roll napkins. You can find out about this in the next video.